NSW HSC - Historical Period: New Kingdom Egypt to the death of Thutmose IV. Basic overview of roles and duties within the Egyptian bureaucracy.

1. Officials & Egyptian administration

2. Administration
Connected to
royal court /
military
Many
opportunities
were created
through foreign
expansion
Generally came
from the
wealthy class &
formed the
elite / nobility
Some
individuals
held several
positions

3. Types of administration - hierarchy
• Pharaoh
• Viziers of Upper & Lower Egypt
• Viceroy of Kush
• Overseer of the Treasury
• High priest of Amen
• Overseer of the granaries
• Overseer of works for the king
• Chief steward
• Chamberlain of the royal palace
• Scribe of the fields of the Lord of two lands
• Mayors …….

5. Evidence of wealth
• Many officials grew in wealth and status during
the 18th dynasty
• Evidence for this development can be found in
the increasing size and rich decoration of the
tombs of officials.
• The scenes found in official’s tombs represented
the positions they held during their lifetime. They
may also emphasise the highlights of their career
e.g.: serving the king & receiving honours

6. Vizier Duties
– Chief financial officer in charge of taxation and
tribute
– Send agents to mayors & district governors
– Appoints administrators – North and South
– Overall responsibility for building program
– Gather reports about activities & harvests
– Act as judge in the ‘hall of judgement’ – a judge
for all people – chief judge in legal affairs
– Charges collected and paid should be reported to
Vizier

7. Instructions from Pharaoh to Vizier (Rekhmire):
Do justice - Vizier is ‘justices’ true guardian

9. Priest of Maat – Goddess of truth, balance and order

10. Gifts & Tribute displayed in Rekhmire’s tomb

11. Noble – ‘country gentleman’?
Country lifestyle was the ideal – spacious, fertile and plentiful –
different to urban life

12. Viceroy of Kush
• Governed whole of Nubia. This was divided into
two regions – each ruled by a deputy:
– Wawat (Lower Nubia – East of Nile)
– Kush (Upper Nubia)
• They controlled the Nubian forts, the military,
collection of taxes and the building of temples.
• Less evidence for imperial administration in Syria-
Palestine as it was administered by garrison
commanders and local vassal princes.

14. PAHERI – Provincial governor
• Direct descendant of Ahmose, Son of Ebana
• Nomarch of Nekheb – capital city of one of
Upper Egypt’s most southern nomes
(administrative centres)

16. Official activities - Paheri
• Similar duties to vizier but on a reduced scale
• Inspection of agricultural activities
• Weighing and receipt of gold from the mines
of the Eastern desert (Nekheb) & its
transportation to Thebes
• Collection of taxes & overseer of justice
• Overseer of local cults e.g.: priests of Nekhbet
(patron goddess of Nekheb)

18. Example: Mayor of Thebes

19. Example: Mayor of Thebes
• One of the highest ranking members of the
provincial administration.
• He worked with the southern vizier to oversee
the building projects at Thebes.
• Duties:
– Supervision of the workers village - Deir El-Medina
– Organise the great religious festivals of the year

20. Sennefer – Mayor of Thebes
• Under Amenhotep II –
mayor was Sennefer. His
brother Amenemopet
was Vizier ;)
• Both ended up buried in
the Valley of the Kings!

23. Religious Officials

24. Religious administration
• Headed by chief priest (First Prophet) of Amun.
Chief overseer of all other religious cults.
• Hapuseneb (Hatshepsut) – also vizier
• Other officials included Second Prophet and
Stewards of the Gods. They were responsible for
administering the finances and estates of the
various cults.
• Senenmut (Hatshepsut) – Chief Steward of Amun